#TuesdayTruth 1 John 3:1

1 John 3:1

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

I absolutely LOVE the language in this verse (taken from the NIV).

  • See what GREAT LOVE… :

    • This is not a love that is given out of obligation. He does not say that He loves us because He feels that He “has to” or because it is “expected” No; it is nothing like that! It is a GREAT love.

    • His love is described in Psalms 32:10 as “unfailing.”

      • Let that sink in- HIS LOVE WILL NEVER FAIL US.

    • Last, we are told multiple times in Scripture that He keeps His “covenant of love” (Nehemiah 1:5 & 9:32, Deuteronomy 7:9 & 12, Daniel 9:4, 1 Kings 8:23, 2 Chronicles 6:14, Psalms 106:45).

      • Again, HIS LOVE WILL NEVER FAIL US.

  • … the Father has LAVISHED on us… :

    • To lavish means: “to expend or bestow with profusion” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lavish)

    • So, again, this is not something that He doles out sparingly, out of a sense of requirement or duty. Rather, He profusely extends His great love to us.

  • …that we should be called CHILDREN OF GOD:

    • So, all of this generous, bountiful, giving is for the purpose of our adoption into son/daughter-ship.

What a wonderful God we serve- a Father who revels in giving us bountiful gifts of love, so that we can be called His children.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your great love. Thank you for how you lavish that love on us. When we look back on our lives, we can see it at work again and again. Thank you that you no longer see us in our sins, but instead, you see us as your beloved children.

We love You Father, Amen.

Drew Gonzalez